As a husband and father, I realize that I have been entrusted with a great responsibility for providing for and protecting my family. Most men carry that same burden. We work hard at our occupation to provide shelter, food, and medical coverage for our families. We sacrifice to ensure that our children get the best opportunities for their education. We strive to ensure their safety by living in safe neighborhoods, purchasing safer vehicles and security systems for our homes. But to what extremes are we willing to go to save our families.
If the house on fire, most men would try to get their wives and children to safety. If an intruder was to threaten their family, most men would risk their lives to protect them. To what extreme would you go as a man to save your family?
The Bible tells us of a man named Noah. You remember him the guy with the Ark. There is more to this man than the guy who built a big boat to save a bunch of animals. Noah went to great extremes to save his family. In Hebrews 11:6, Noah life's is summarized this way...
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family."
The times in which Noah lived were so evil that God regretted ever making mankind to begin with. They had consistently turned their thoughts toward evil and their wickedness was so perverse and evil that God decided to destroy all living things and start over. That is where we are introduced to Noah in Genesis chapter 6.
Noah was a man of Peerless Character.
Genesis 6:8-9 tells us that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord because he was the only man who was righteous, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God. Noah countered the culture of his day. He was not a chameleon who conforms to the environment around him. He was unique. He was God's man among a godless generation. His relationship with God set him apart from all others. He was that kind of man before there ever was an ark. Because Noah was that kind of man, it saved his family.
Noah was a man who Precisely Obeyed God.
God told Noah that He was going to destroy the earth with a flood. He assigned Noah the task of building the ark. The place of refuge for Noah, his family and the animals necessary to be the "new beginning for the earth." God gave specific instructions to Noah. He provided details about the ark's dimensions and instructions for gathering the animals. The Bible tells us that Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22) That was no small task considering that ark wouldn't fit on a football field and stood as tall as a 5 story building. Remember there were no power tools, cranes or Home Depots during those days to assist him. But Noah did it all just like God told him to because it would save his family.
Noah also, was a man who Persevered by Faith
It took 100 years for Noah to build the ark. He experienced ridicule and insults. The task was daunting and laborious. Once the ark was completed and the animals gathered, the Lord instructed Noah and his family to enter the ark. God sealed the door shut and it started to rain. The rain came and floods came up. As evil mankind called out for rescue, there were none who survived except those in the ark; Noah, his family and the animals. They were on that ark for a year until the waters receded. When they finally exited the ark, they praised God for saving them. The journey of faith was difficult and scary, but by faith, Noah persevered. He persevered because he walked with God, each step of the way.
Noah was able to save his family because he was walked with God. His walk with God gave him the confidence to trust God's word even when it appeared ridiculous. As a result of being obedient to God's word, he built the ark and his family was saved. Noah is the example for all husbands and fathers who want to save their families in today's world.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
A View from the Bench
I've counted down the clock, launching that jump shot toward the basket, followed by the "AAAANK!" sound of the imaginary buzzer as the ball rips through the net of the goal mounted on the garage. I have thrown the winning touchdown pass in the neighborhood football games in the backyard. I've made the game saving catch in the school yard pick-up games. Like most boys, I have loved sports and dreamed of playing in the big leagues one day.
Yet, most of my experience in athletics has been sitting on the bench. I was too small and too slow to play football in high school. My parents were afraid I would get hurt. (They may have saved my life.) So I watched from the stands. In little league baseball, I was a pretty good infielder but my baseball career was shorten because I couldn't hit a curve ball. I spent most of summers dreading games because I would be stuck on the bench. My organized basketball career can be summarized by saying that in the 9th grade, I was the 16th player on a team with only 15 uniforms. Me and another boy shared the same uniform by alternating games. But most of my time was spent on the bench.
It's not fun sitting on the bench. Watching everyone else get to play. Watching families cheer for their sons when they make a good play. On the bench, you try to be a team player, but inside you still feel sad. You want to be in the game...on the field...under lights!
Do you know what can be worse than sitting on the bench? It's the moment that the coach looks your way and He says, "Ellis, go in for____________." In that instant, your opportunity comes, and you are scared to death. The coach gives you some instructions, but you don't hear them because all you're thinking is, "Am I ready for this?" ; "What if I mess up?; "There's a reason I'm on the bench, I'm not any good!" It can be scary to be "in the game." There is a lot of responsibility when you are "on the field." Everyone's watching you when you are "under the lights."
In the real game called Life, there are many who like the safety of "sitting on the bench." I find this is true even among Christians. We convince ourselves that "we are not ready yet" or "not good enough" to be the spouse or parent we know that God wants us to be. We fear that we will fail at trying to live a life of commitment to God "under the lights" in front of our family and co-workers. There's too much pressure to be "on the field" all the time.
You don't have to be scared to come off the bench in the game of Life. The Bible tells us in one powerful encouraging verse:
Yet, most of my experience in athletics has been sitting on the bench. I was too small and too slow to play football in high school. My parents were afraid I would get hurt. (They may have saved my life.) So I watched from the stands. In little league baseball, I was a pretty good infielder but my baseball career was shorten because I couldn't hit a curve ball. I spent most of summers dreading games because I would be stuck on the bench. My organized basketball career can be summarized by saying that in the 9th grade, I was the 16th player on a team with only 15 uniforms. Me and another boy shared the same uniform by alternating games. But most of my time was spent on the bench.
It's not fun sitting on the bench. Watching everyone else get to play. Watching families cheer for their sons when they make a good play. On the bench, you try to be a team player, but inside you still feel sad. You want to be in the game...on the field...under lights!
Do you know what can be worse than sitting on the bench? It's the moment that the coach looks your way and He says, "Ellis, go in for____________." In that instant, your opportunity comes, and you are scared to death. The coach gives you some instructions, but you don't hear them because all you're thinking is, "Am I ready for this?" ; "What if I mess up?; "There's a reason I'm on the bench, I'm not any good!" It can be scary to be "in the game." There is a lot of responsibility when you are "on the field." Everyone's watching you when you are "under the lights."
In the real game called Life, there are many who like the safety of "sitting on the bench." I find this is true even among Christians. We convince ourselves that "we are not ready yet" or "not good enough" to be the spouse or parent we know that God wants us to be. We fear that we will fail at trying to live a life of commitment to God "under the lights" in front of our family and co-workers. There's too much pressure to be "on the field" all the time.
You don't have to be scared to come off the bench in the game of Life. The Bible tells us in one powerful encouraging verse:
"I can do everything through Him (Christ) who gives me strength."
(Philippians 4:13)
(Philippians 4:13)
God has promised that He will equip you to do anything that He is calling you to do. In a relationship with Him, He provides the all that you will need to do His will. Don't just sit there. He's calling your name. Isn't it time to get off the bench, and on the field and into the game?
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